Back in 2004, Indonesia made headlines because of an unfortunate disaster – it got hit by the infamous Asian tsunami that killed thousands of people in neighboring countries like Thailand and India. It was a devastating blow, but Indonesia was too resilient to just give up after that incident.

Today, not only is Indonesia is back on its feet, but it is steadily rising, in terms of economy and stability. It is a giant of a nation with more than 17,500 islands, a 1.9-million-square-kilometer land area and a whopping 240 million people. That’s a lot. But the really good news is that Indonesia is also huge in culture, heritage, and tourism treasures. There are as many reasons why Indonesia should be a highlight in anyone’s travel map, with or without a tsunami (hopefully without).

What is literally a gigantic string of tropical islands, Indonesia is uniquely located between the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean, right along the equator. This rare placement in the globe blessed Indonesia with a variety of exciting animals and land formations. It has rice fields, rainforests, and savannah grasslands. It even features snow-capped mountains, considering its location.

It is also the home of what could be the only remaining dinosaur in the world, the Komodo dragon. It is the world’s largest living lizard and these dragons can only be found in the Indonesian islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Gili Motang, and Padar. Also, unique in the islands are the Java rhinos, Sulawesi dwarf buffalos, and the prehistoric coelacanth fish.

These animals are top of the charts and worthy of international audience, but it may be rare to see vacationing families flying all the way to Indonesia just to see an oversized lizard. No, vacationing families go to the beautiful Bali, one of the most spectacular beach/island/resort in the world. Nothing compares to Bali. Tourists who come here know that they have finally arrived and seen what Asian tourism is all about.

Taman Mini Indonesia Indah is a recreational facility found in East Jakarta. Also called Beautiful Indonesia Miniature Park, the facility is spread over an area of 250 acres. The park is simply a smaller version of Indonesia. It features replicas of all the best of the land from the 26 provinces of the country (Indonesia at present is divided into 33 provinces), with each province having its own pavilion in the park. The pavilions include an assortment of clothes, architecture, and other materials of cultural significance. Traditional dances and other performing arts are also depicted.

Taman Mini Indonesia Indah in Jakarta – Indonesia

The park’s concept originated from former first lady Tien Suharto, whose idea was inspired by President Suharto’s speech. The plan was conceived after a board meeting that took place on March 13, 1970. By building the park, Tien Suharto hoped to promote stronger nationalism among the Indonesians and instill in them a greater appreciation of their homeland and their culture. [Read more…]

The Proclamation Building, also known as Gedung Proklamasi or House of Proclamation, is located at 56 Jalan Pegangsaan Timur (now called Jalan Proklamasi), Jakarta. This building is where President Sukarno, the country’s first president, read the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence. The event took place at 10 am on the historic day of August 17, 1945. The reading of the proclamation was heard all over the country as broadcasted by the Jakarta Hoso Kyoku radio station. Simultaneous broadcasts translated in English were aired to other countries.

The proclamation was actually done in the spacious yard of Sukarno’s residence, which is why it is presently called Proclamation Building Yard Compound. On the site, the Proclamation Monument was built to commemorate the event. It has two statues on either side. If you are facing the monument, the statue on the left side is that of President Sukarno, which stands at 4.6 meters and weighs 1,200 kilogram. On the right side is the statue of Mohammad Hatta, fhe first vice president, which measures 4.4 meters tall. At the back of Sukarno and Hatta’s statues, there are 17 pillars signifying the date of proclamation. This monument was inaugurated on August 16, 1980 by President Suharto, who succeeded President Sukarno. Near the monument stands Tugu Petir, also known as Thunderbolt Monument, which marks the actual place where President Sukarno read the text. [Read more…]

The Ragunan Zoo in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta is sprawled over a total land area of 140 hectares and has a collection of more than 3,000 animals distributed in over 270 species. The large zoo is one of the popular tourist attractions in the city. It was built in 1864 by an organization of plant and animal lovers. Its original location was in Cikini in Central Jakarta, but in 1966, it was moved to its present location. The old location eventually became the place for the Jakarta Art Institute and the Taman Ismail Marzuki. The city administration, which oversees the management of the zoo, employs 450 people to maintain it. The zoo has been in continuous operation since its relocation except on September 19, 2005 when it was closed for three weeks because some of the birds tested positive for bird flu.

Although many people will agree that the Ragunan Zoo is not the best zoo in Asia, visiting it will still prove to be a worthwhile experience. First, it provides a reprieve from the chaotic streets of Indonesia’s largest city. With its lush tropical rainforest, the zoo is indeed a relaxing place to be. Second, it allows you to be acquainted with different kinds of animals, such as the orangutan, komodo dragons, and the critically endangered Sumatran tiger. [Read more…]

The famous Puppet Museum in Jakarta is also known as Wayang Museum. It provides a spectacular display of different kinds of Indonesian puppet collected from all over the archipelago. The term “wayang” generally refers to puppet theater or the puppet used in the performance. The art is rooted deep in Indonesian culture, with the earliest account of wayang being recorded in 930 CE.

Among the different kinds of wayang, one of the most popular is “wayang kulit” or shadow puppetry, a show that employs the use of light and shadows. It uses two-dimensional puppets usually made of buffalo hide and propped up on bamboo sticks. A lamp is placed behind the puppets so that their shadows are cast on a white cotton cloth, and the audience watches the show on the other side of the cloth. The story is narrated by a Dalang. [Read more…]

The Textile Museum is basically what its name suggests – a collection of thousands of different kinds of textile from all the corners of Indonesia. The museum, also called Museum Tekstil, is housed in a building along Jl Aipda KS Tubun. The building was built by a French man in the 1800s to be his private residence. Later on, it was bought by Turkish consul Abdul Azis who chose to live in Indonesia. The building was eventually bought by the Indonesian Department of Social Affairs in 1952. The building was then restored and was given to the regional government in 1975 to be used for the museum.

The building of the Textile Museum itself is decorated artistically. Its lavish display rooms showcase not only the museum’s own collections but also those of the textile lovers’ society. In the museum, you will find all sorts of traditional textile. Each textile signifies a piece of cultural information about the place from where it was taken. Among the traditional textiles you will find in display in the museum are ikat, batik, pelangi, prada, tenun, songket, and Celup. [Read more…]

For antique lovers, going to Surabaya Street or Jalan Surabaya is a must. This antique market presents a vast contrast against the modern, classy malls that have sprung up all over Jakarta. Likewise, it stands out in the elegant neighborhood of Menteng, where it is found. The market began decades ago as a small gathering of merchants that sold Chinese porcelain.

Over the years, the number of merchants grew and the wares became more diverse. Eventually, it became a themed market for antiques. Today, the street is lined with stall upon stall of antique shops. In this open-air market, you will find all sorts of antique pieces and trinkets, such as Javanese puppet dolls, old cannons, body armors, teapots, jewelry and accessories, ancient musical instruments, porcelain, wooden statues, old books, silver and brass materials, Victorian lamps, glass chandeliers, decorations, and even plates salvaged from sunken ships. [Read more…]